AL: I know that you and Ken are reading the Bible through together in a year, and you must be seeing some things in God’s Word that you didn’t see last year this time…
JONI: I sure am. In fact, do you know that show “American Idol?”
AL: What’s that got to do with reading the Bible through in a year?
JONI: Well, I’ll tell you… I don’t watch American Idol, but you sure hear a lot about it, and earlier this season a friend at work said, “Joni, you really must watch tonight. It’s the finals. And tonight we get to see who wins.” Well, I don’t know who these contestants are, their names, never heard them sing, but my friend was so insistent, after Ken put me to bed, I turned it on.
AL: How was it?
JONI: Loud and crazy. But you know… after 30 minutes, I, too, began wondering which singer was going to win…
AL: And?
JONI: I never found out… You see, five minutes before the show ended, Ken came walking into the bedroom with his Bible tucked under his arm and his eyeglasses and announced, “Time to do our Bible reading… and tonight we’re in the first chapter of 1 Chronicles.”
AL: Isn’t that the chapter that lists all those names that only a mother could love?
JONI: Exactly. And you know what? It was no competition. My eyes were on that television screen wondering who the winner would be. My heart leaped for joy when Ken said it was time to start reading the Bible, and I could have cared less who won American Idol. I was very happy to have him turn it off right before the ending of the show…
AL: …Well, Joni, some people would say that the first chapter of 1 Chronicles, with all those hard-to-pronounce names, is not the most, well… interesting chapter in the Bible to read…
JONI: That’s okay. It didn’t matter. It was the Word of God. It was my husband reading. It was something wonderful we were doing together. And believe it or not, that evening as Ken slowly read all those names – and it wasn’t easy, because the pronunciations are very difficult – that evening God rewarded me with a very special insight. It occurred to me as Ken was listing through the names that individuals are very important to the Lord. The Old Testament is filled with lists of names, and for that, I am oh so glad. It reminds me that God knows my name and He is specifically and intimately concerned about who we are and the plan He’s got for our lives. He will always remember our name.
AL: So you never did find out who won American Idol?
JONI: I did, but… I forgot her name. Which just goes to show the point. I am so glad that the Word of God can take preeminence over who wins the finals of American Idol.
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